Changes

Politeness does not mean meek agreement with whatever anyone else says; one can disagree with others, even forcefully, and still be polite in doing so. One can be assertive without being abusive. But it excludes using swearing, insults, [[ad hominem]]s, etc.

Politeness does not mean meek agreement with whatever anyone else says; one can disagree with others, even forcefully, and still be polite in doing so. One can be assertive without being abusive. But it excludes using swearing, insults, [[ad hominem]]s, etc.

Politeness is important to the maintenance of rationality; when politeness is dispensed with, rationality invariable declines. Rationality requires that we be willing to give those of differing views a fair hearing, and politeness helps ensure that we do so; when we shout down our opponents with insults, we are being neither polite nor rational. Politeness helps prevent excessive emotion in discussions, and excessive emotion quickly reduces a rational discussion into an irrational one.

Politeness is important to the maintenance of rationality; when politeness is dispensed with, rationality invariablY declines. Rationality requires that we be willing to give those of differing views a fair hearing, and politeness helps ensure that we do so; when we shout down our opponents with insults, we are being neither polite nor rational. Politeness helps prevent excessive emotion in discussions, and excessive emotion quickly reduces a rational discussion into an irrational one.

Atheist forums and websites in particular are noted for their impoliteness, where crass parodies of religious belief are often preferred to rational arguments. Many atheists will defend this, on the grounds that (in their view) politeness is not morally required — which is unsurprising, in that there worldview leaves them without any objective moral foundations.

Atheist forums and websites in particular are noted for their impoliteness, where crass parodies of religious belief are often preferred to rational arguments. Many atheists will defend this, on the grounds that (in their view) politeness is not morally required — which is unsurprising, in that there worldview leaves them without any objective moral foundations.